Every car owner understands the stress involved with auto repair. You either have to shell out a lot of dough to get your car fixed, or spend your precious time making the repairs yourself. Both of these are a pain in the neck, but this article can ease the pain a bit.

Before allowing them to repair your vehicle, verify that the mechanic has A.S.E. certification. This kind of certification tells you that whoever will be working on your car has a couple years of experience and has passed a test. This is a good way of finding a qualified mechanic who will care about doing a good job so they can keep their certification.

Don’t underestimate how important it is to have some kind of emergency kit within your vehicle. A battery charger, tire changing tools and an extra can of gas are just a few of the items to have on hand. A few blankets, flashlights and spare batteries are also great to have.

Do not hire a mechanic until you are sure they have experience with this particular make and model. If yes, then you can trust them with your car.

Tag the important pages in your vehicle manual. When you do have to deal with a mechanic, you can show him the copy of the manual, which can help him. After reading the manual, you might just find that you have an easy fix on your hands.

Keep a record of any vehicle repairs. If further issues develop later, the mechanic may want to see the historical documentation of what has already been done. Without these records, you may have to pay more money, and it may be harder to find where the problem is coming from.

Look for online reviews of different local auto shops. This lets you know how other people who have tried this mechanic before have felt about their experience. This information can be used to locate an auto repair shop that you feel is well suited to your needs.

Once an auto shop has made repairs to your car, test drive it to ensure they did a good job prior to paying them. A lot of people don’t try to drive their car first and they figure out the hard way that it wasn’t repaired later on.

Make sure any mechanic you hire knows about your particular vehicle. Though there are lots of universal concepts, a large SUV requires different knowledge than a compact car does. If you’re not sure, it may be worth it to pay extra at the dealer.

Basic Tools

You should have basic tools in your car at all times. You should have basic tools such as equipment to change a tire, fix a flat, add oil and a gallon of water. If you’re missing a lug wrench and jack, then you need to buy one. You should also have good quality Phillips head and flat head screwdrivers, socket wrenches and a ratchet set, a torque wrench and an adjustable wrench. Never buy cheap tools. Buy quality, reliable tools that are not going to break.

Auto repair may not always be a picnic, but there are things you can do to make your auto repair go a lot smoother. With these tips in hand, your next auto repair experience won’t be so bad. Your car will thank you.